SOME GOOD PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 14

SOME GOOD PLAY

MINGINS DEFEATED DRAWING GAME COUNTERED SPEARMAN'S ACCURATE DRIVING [BY TELEGRAFH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday A large attendance of spectators had some good contests to watch. Auckland provides the runner-up in the singles. Mingins' fine drawing was countered by Spearman's accurate driving, which made the Ponsonby representative lose some finely-drawn ends. Toward the finish of play heavy rain fell and the rinks game between Haworth and Gray, which, if the twolifer, Gray, is not beaten, may be the final, was held over until to-morrow morning.

Mingins lost a three on the first end, duo to good draws by his opponent. On the second the Ponsonby player drew two and a single on the third. He lay behind the jack on the fourth and drew another, the Sydenham man's driving taking off one and game was 4 —3 to Mingins. One to Spearman made the game four-all.

Mingins lost a pair and next a single, the result of the Canterbury man taking the white to the ditch and lying shot with the Ponsonby player three yards up the green. At this stage slight rain came on and deadened the green. A single to the leader on the next end and then a pair on the next made the score 10 —4 on the ninth. Then Mingins scored a great three, vjhich Spearman failed to drive oft, and a single and he was 2 down on the 11th. Mingins Takes Lead A pair went against Mingins on the next end and then he got a nice three to make the game one the difference on the 13th at 12—11. Then the Ponsonby player went ahead with a couple, his opponent springing the jack back to Mingins' back bowls, which the A nek lander had placed there for safety. The next end was rather scattered and saw two more to Mingins, who led 15 — 12. A close head and interesting counter play saw one to the leader and he led 16—12. The players were now using rags, and the 17th saw two nice draws by Spearman, making him 2 down.

The 38th saw the Canterbury man driving to take Mingins off the white. He got his objective with a good run, but Mingins got in again and Spearman. again driving, pushed a bowl on to the jack to give him one. Again one—the difference on the 19th, the Aueklander was on the white with his third, but Spearman drove and, picking the jack up to the ditch for a three. made a great recovery. The Canterbury man had to drive again on the next and he cleaned both his opponent's lying shots off. The last end saw Mingins three down with his opponent on the kitty with his first and Spearman was the winner of the 1937 singles, which he achieved with his accurate driving tactics. Spearman was beaten in the first round of post-section play by W. Carswell. Lowry Beats Wynyard

In the, pairs Hardley is leading for Wynyard, Needham having returned to Auckland. Wynyard met Lowry (Petone) in a game in which the West End players were defeated, their opponents starting well. The score was ]•"'» —8 on the 12th and a brace and singles went to the winners in the latter stages and Auckland lost one of its pairs hopes by 12—21.

Auckland still has Macklow and Livingstone and this pair will play the winner of the Navlor and Lowry contest in the morning. A singles match this morning that attracted a good following was when Brackenridge, the 1921 champion, and Engebretsen the 1935 champion, met at headquarters. It was an even game to the (3th. when the Lyall Bay player went ahead and the score was 9—3 against Engebretsen on the 9th. The latter made a good run later and took the game at 18—15. Two clubmates, Thomas and Engebretsen, then met in a good game to halfway. Engebretsen led 12 —8, but singles and beautifully drawn four shots by Thomas saw him headed. From then on the winner more than held his own and won by four points at 22—18. Spearman, who defeated Best so easily on Wednesday, then met Thomas in the semi-final and was up practically all the way. His drawing and driving were quite up to that displayed when he downed Best and he went into the final against Mingins. A Good Record The singles winner is a well-performed Canterbury player, who first received his tuition from L. M. Naylor, Upper Hutt, the Thorndon player and winner of tke 1933 rinks. After three years in Hutt Valley he went to Christchureh, where he joined up with the Sydenham Club. He has met with a good deal of success and has skipped Sydenham doubles and rinks to victory. This is the first singles success achieved by the Canterbury province. The Haworth-London rinks game was the Canterbury man's all the way. He led with a four and a two, and was 10 —2 on the St. John's team when a great seven was obtained by the latter on a head rather scattered. The scoro was 13 —9 against London on the tenth. From then on tile winners were too consistent, and 27 —15 was returned. Success of Silbery Silberv's defeat of Haworth yesterday rather easily brought them together again in what may be the semi-final to-day. On this occasion their opponents had their revenge, being from the middle stages always holding a few points advantage. The Christchureh skip was saving his side on several ends, and all round they had the better of the encounter.

Weather permitting, the games tomorrow morning will be Ha worth (Canterbury) v. Gray (two-lifer), in the rinks, and in the pairs Trueman (Foxton) meets Cometti (Hataitai). The winner of the latter match will meet .Manning (Timaru) in one semi-final. Nay lor (Thorndonl meets Lowry (Petone), and the winner meets Livingstone (Onehunga) in the other semi-final.

Heavy rain is falling and the greens are flooded. The outlook for a continuation of play is not promising.